The overland mail from India, which reached London on Wednes-
day and Thursday, acquaints us with the arrival tit Macao of the expedition against China, and brings news of serious import front our possessions in the East. The range of this intelligence stretches over a vast space. The accounts published in the daily papers are unconnected and desultory : we shall endeavour to present them in a more connected form, and so as to give a general idea of the nature of the events.
To begin with China. The squadron under Commodore Sir JAMES
BREMER, Commander-in-Chief on the India station, arrived at Macao on the 21st of June. On the following day he issued a notifica- tion, that, " in pursuance of the commands of- her Britannic Majesty's Government," a blockade of the river and port of Canton would be established on the :2'.3.11s of that month. Two days after issuing this notice, the greater part of the squadron under the Commodore's com- mand set sail northward.
On the 2 5th, Captain ET.LTOT, who was then at Macao, issued a de-
claration to Ow inhabitants of the coast of China, to the effect that their peraons and property sliteld 1: respected; and he also put forth another document suiting the oriein of the war. In these declarations, Com- missioners Lan and Tam: are the parties against whom war is pro- claimed; the Emperor of China and the Chinese people are said to be objects of veneration and tender care to the Qaeen of England! On the 29th June, Admiral Emacsr arrived off Mecao, in the Melville, havit: g in company two other ships of the expeditien. Captain ELLIOT,
NORBISON, Chief Interpreter, Mr. Eretsmi., Secretary and Trea•
surer to the Commission, embarked on board the Admiral's ship. On the follon mg morning, the Admiral with the ships under his command followed Sir JAMES BREMER'S squadron ; leavieg, however, a sufficient force to maintain the blockade of Canton.
The object of the expediton in the North was not positively known, but it was believed to be to take possession of aid fortify the island of Chusau, on the North-eastern coast of China, at the mouth of the Yellow River. This island would be an important post between Canton and Pekin, and would afford great facilities in carrying on warlike operations.
Immediately before the arrival of Sir JAanss Bonmen. the Chinese made an unsuccessful attempt to set fire to the English shipping. Their mode of carrying on war is, of course, considerably at variance with the regulations and customs recognized among Europeans as legitimate mcauus of placing an enemy lions de combat. A proclamation had been issued offering rewards for killing Englishmen end for destroying ships. It is ids) stated, thoneh with 1
certainty. that is e a WaS packed up and seet for sale ainong. the English saiIars n:: it tired by pirates. end sold by 11w in to the natives on the st,:. it num- bers of the Chinese themselves.
